Apparatus for classifying and concentrating ores.



R. E. TROTTIER. APPARATUS FOR. OLASSIFYING AND GONGENTRATING ORES;

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1906.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

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R. E. TROTTIBR. APPARATUS FOR GLASSIFYING AND GONGENTRATING onrzs.APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22 1906.

981,230., Patented Jan 10,1911.

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f W ifa'zzy I R. E, TROTTIER. APPARATUS FOR GLASSIFYING ANDGONGENTRATING ORBS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1906.

Patented Jan. 10,1911] m m. m w m 6 RENE EMILE TROTTIER, 0F HUSSEIN-DEY,FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR CLASSIFYING AND CONCENTRATING ORES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed August 22, 1906. Serial No. 331,554.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, RENE EMILE TROT'TIER, acitizen of the Republic i. of France, and resident of Hussei nl)ey,Algeria, Republic of France, engineer, have invented a new and useful Aparatus for Classifying and Concentrating res, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for rapidly andeconomically classifying solid substances according to their lineardimensions and their specific gravity 1n moving water or air.

The apparatus consists of a vertical pipe comprising a number ofidentical superimposed sections traversed by a current of air or waterunder pressure. The more-nearly the linear dimensions and the specificgravities of the substances are alike, the longer will be the pipe andthe greater the number of sections. Each section consists essentially ofa tube having Within it a classifying table along which the current ofwater or air travels with a speed controlled by the position of anadjustable shoe. The material to be classified is introduced into oneend of the pipe and encountering during its passage the current ofclassifying fluid flowing in the opposite direction, is classifiedautomatically, first according to linear dimensions during its actualdescent, then according to specific gravity under the influence of theclassifying current in a passage of reduced section, and

finally again according to linear dimensions along the classifyingtable. The separated material is carried away by a delivery chute andthat on the classifying table falls into a lower section identical withthat which precedes it, in which the same operations are repeated; andso on until the separation is complete the height of the sections, thatis the height of the descent, allowing the separation by lineardimensions. If the number of sections is sufficient, a perfectclassification of the substances treated may be at tained. Eachsection-comprises a very precise system of regulation, allowing anextreme y sensitive classification, that is to say, the movable shoe forre ulating the speed of the current, the classifying table whoseinclination is variable to regulate the classification by specificgravity, the tubular distance pieces which allow the height of thedescent to be varied for classifying by linear dimensions, and a vane toregulate the de scent of the material. I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic Vertical sectionof an apparatus according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on line A--B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of asorting table with corrugated face. Fig. 4

is a front view in detail of the upper part of a modification of myapparatus showing the device which serves to actuate the distributer,and Fig. 5 is a complete View of the same on aslnaller scale in whichthe chutes are shown as flexible for the purpose of permitting the wholetube to take a vertical oscillating movement.

The pipe (1 is made up of a series of sections 5 superimposed on eachother in number suitable for the result to be obtained. Each of thesesections, in this instance three Z) 5 b COIISlStSuO-f a tube of squareor rectangular cross section having flanged ends. The width of the crosssection depends on the volume of material to be treated, while thelength depends on the quantity. The height of the tube depends on thedifiiculty attending the separatlon of the'various substances treated,and therefore on the linear dimensions and the'specific gravity. ofthese substances. The effective height of the tube may be simply variedby interposing between two tubes corresponding tubular distance pieces 00 The internal surfaces of the sections 6 b b are dressed and onesurfacecarries a regulating shoe d 03 d which can be moved vertically and fixedin the desired position by a bolt 6. The function of the shoes is toregulate the speed of the current of water or air along the sortingtables 7, f f which may be corrugated or smooth and are hinged on thepins 9 g 9 so that their inclination may be varied according to thedifference of specific gravit of the substances treated and the degree 0classification desired. Guides h 71, b direct the material against vanest 4 2' which turn on ins j 7' 7' and are constantly held againstthelower ends of the guides 71., h k by counterweights k 72 V 70 arrangedoutside the tube. Chutes Z Z Z conduct the classified material to thecorresponding elevators m m m v At the'upper part of the apparatus acylindrical sieve 0 revolving in a hopper n feeds the material to betreated on 'to a wheel 32 carrying troughs and turned through a quarterrevolution at regular inatone end to the rod and at the other to I thevane, or to its pivot, on the side opposite that on which thecounterweight is attached. The topmost section also carries a guide 8and a delivery chute Z, the lowest section has a chute l leading to anelevator m and is in communication with a pipe 23 for admitting air orwater under pressure.

The working of the apparatus may be regulatedby the adjustment of thefluid admission at t and by the admission of the material to'beclassified at 0.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :Supposing that water isthe classifying fluid and that the current is upward, the cock thatcontrols the pipe 23 is opened and as soon as water flows rom the chuteV Z the material to be treated, such as an ore,

alternately filled an is introduced throu h 0. The wheel p is emptied,and its contents, classifying themselves according to their lineardimensions during their descent, travel through the ascending current ofliquid which carries the li htest substances through the chute Z. T eheavier substances slide on the upper surface of the shoe at and fallinto the current which passes along the lower surface thereof; but oncethey enter between the shoe and the table f their classification iseffected solely by specific gravity. Thematerial driven backis carriedagainst the sorting table f and subjected to the influence of the speedof the current, so that a new classification according to lineardimensions is produced. The densest grains collect against the vane 2',then these classified by linear dimensions on the table f, in theirorder of classification; these operations arethe more easily effected inthat a classification by linear dimensions has already occurred beforethe passage in frontof the shoe 0!. The substances stopped I by thevane, descend as soon as this is lowof the current. It is advisable touse a sepaing pipe.

rating septum u in order to avoid carrying up the material by theascending current when it ought to be descending. The apparatus is soregulated that pure substances alone arrive at the chute Z currentshould be produced by these chutes,

unless there are large quantities of water to be disposed of and thematerial of the chutes must be more or less violently carried along. Inany case, the derived currents should not disturb the ascending current,or rather the principal. current for the apparatus can operate equallywell with a descending current.

When material which is very fine and adherent is to be treated thechutes are made sufliciently flexible to allow a vertical vibratorymovement to be given to the classify- Accordingly, part of theevacuation conduits or chutes can be constituted by the sleeves w, ofleather or cloth, and an oscillatory movement can be given to the wholetube by an eccentric y mounted on a lower shaft .2, see'Fig. 5. Thisarrangement serves particularly well when air is used as thedistributing current.

The present apparatus utilizes methodically the characteristic functionof a substance, namely its weight and its volume, whence are derived itsspecific gravity and the uniform speed which it very rapidly assumeswhen it descends in a fluid presenting more or less resistance. Owing tothe arrangement whereby these diflerent'qualities are influenced by thisapparatus it is possible to vary infinitely the classification and theseparation, for example to prevent absolutely such and such a substancefrom passing such and such a chute to allow it to pass such and suchother chute, all with great precision. Thus specific gravities onlydiffering by some hundredths can be separated. In fact one can influencewith the greatest ease on the one hand the classification by lineardimensions by modifying the height of the sections, that is to say byvaryin the distance pieces, and on the other hand the classification byspecific gravity by varying the inclination of the tables and theposition of the regulating shoes.

The present apparatus is distinguished in particular by the followingadvantages; a low initial cost owing to the similarity of all the parts,a very small weight and volume, a high degree of precision andefliciency, a low cost for power, and finally great purity andregularity of products.

Further advantages are that there is an inappreciable loss of usefulmaterial, that the apparatus is able to treat equally well large grainand the finest dust, for the latter of which air may advantageously besubstituted for water, and that the apparatus can be mounted in seriesand worked autotreated, but their height depends essentially on thedegree of separation which is to be attained; the number of threesections has been given merely as an example.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for, classifying and concentrating solid materials, aplurality of slanting classifying tables interconnected by a verticalpassage, whereby the materials may have a complete classification bytheir linear dimensions intermediate their classification by specificgravity, an intermittentl rotating wheel for supplying the materiais tothe apparatus, and swin ing vanes under the control of the said whee forregulating the passage of the materials from one classifying table tothe next.

2. In an apparatus for classifying and concentrating solid materials,the combination of tubular elements for classification by slpecificgravity, inclined classifying tables isposed in the said elements, opentubular portions located between the elements for classification byspecific gravity and ada ted for classification according to linearimensions, chutes connected with each of the first named elements forthe escape of the classified materials, means for passing a fluidcurrent. throughout the apparatus, and adjustable means cooperating withthe said classifying tables for regulating the direction and force ofthe current.

In an apparatus for classifying and concentrating solid materials, thecombination of tubular elements for classification according to specificgravity, open tubular portions between these elements, means for passinga current throughout the apparatus inclined adjustable classifyingtables, fixed guides, vertically adjustable shoes, and chutes connectedwith each of the first named elements for the escape of the classifiedmaterial.

4. In anapparatus for classifying and concentrating solid materials, thecombination of tubular elements for the classification by specificgravity, open tubular portions between these elements, means for passinga current throughout the apparatus,

adjustable classifying tables, fixed guides,

shoes adjustable toward and away from the classifying tables, swingingvanes for regulating the quantity of material passing through theapparatus, and chutes connected with each of the first named elementsfor the escape of the classified material.

5. In an apparatus for classifying and concentrating solid materials,the combina tion of tubular elements for classification according tospecific gravtiy, open tubular portions between these elements, meansfor passing a liquid current throughout the apparatus, adjustableclassifying tables and adjustable shoes located in said elements,ChlltGS' connected with each of the first named elements for the escapeof the classified material, a rotatable sieve adapted to dip in theliquid current and also adapted to -means for passing a liquid currentthroughout the apparatus, adjustable classifyin tables and adjustableshoes located in said elements, vanes for adjusting the quantity ofmaterial passing through the apparatus, chutes connected to each of thefirst named elements for the escape of the classified material, arotatable sieve adapted to dip in the liquid andalso adapted to receivethe material to be classified, an intermittently rotating wheel adaptedto receive the mate rial from the sieve and dispense it in theclassifying apparatus, and means connecting the said intermittentlyrotating wheel and the said vanes.

7. In an apparatus for classifying and concentrating solid materials,the combination of tubular elements for classification according tospecific gravity, open tubular portions between these elements, meansfor passing a liquid current throughout the apparatus, adjustableclassifying tables and adjustable shoes located in the said elements,adjustable vanes for regulating the quantityof material passing throughthe'apparatus, an intermittently rotating distributer controlling theopening of said vanes, chutes connected with each of the first namedelements for the escape of the classi- I fied material, and elevatorsfor removing 'the classified material, the said apparatus being providedwith an independent orifice for the escape of the classifying current.

8. In an apparatus for classifying and concentratin solid materials, thecombination of tubuIar classifying elements, adjustable classifyingtables and adjustable shoes located in said elements, open tubularportions between said elements, chutes conas my invention, I have signedmy name in nected with each of the said first named elepresence of twoWitnesses. this sixth day of 10 ments for the escape of the classifiedmate- August 1906. rial, means for passing a fluid current 5 throughoutthe apparatus, and means for RENE EMILE TBOTTILR oscillating theapparatus in order to facili-' Witnesses: tate the passing of fine andsticky material. JEAN ANDRE MESSAGE,

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing LUCIEN OARTIGUE.

